Unit 20: Land-Use Controls and Property Development

Question 1

buffer zone

Answer 1

a strip of land, usually used as a park or designated for a similar use, separating land dedicated to one use from land dedicated to another use (separating residential from commercial)

Question 2

building code

Answer 2

an ordinance that specifies minimum standards of construction for buildings to protect public safety and health

Question 3

certificate of occupancy

Answer 3

permission by the municipal inspector to occupy a completed building structure after being inspected and having complied with building codes

Question 4

comprehensive plan

Answer 4

see master plan. Master plan - a comprehensive government plan to guide the long-term physical development of a particular area

Question 5

conditional-use permit

Answer 5

written governmental permission allowing a use inconsistent with zoning but necessary for the common good, such as locating an emergency medical facility in a predominantly residential area.

Question 6

covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs)

Answer 6

private agreements that affect land use. THey may be enforced by an owner of real estate that benefits from them and can be included in the seller’s deed to the buyer.

Question 7

deed restrictions

Answer 7

clauses in a deed limiting the future use of property. Deed restrictions may impose a vast variety of limitations and conditions - for example, they may limit the density of buildings, dictate the types of structures that can be erected, or prevent buildings from being used for specific purposes or even from being used at all

Question 8

density zoning

Answer 8

zoning ordinances that restrict the maximum average number o housing units per acre that may be built within a particular area, generally a subdivision

Question 9

developer

Answer 9

one who attempts to put land to its most profitable use through the construction of improvements

Question 10

enabling acts

Answer 10

state legislation that confers zoning and other powers on municipal governments.

Question 11

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (ILSA)

Answer 11

A federal law that regulates the sale of certain real estate in interstate commerce

Question 12

nonconforming use

Answer 12

a use of property that is permitted to continue after a zoning ordinance prohibiting it has been established in the area

Question 13

planned unit development (PUD)

Answer 13

a planned combination of diverse land uses, such as housing, recreation, and shopping, in one contained development or subdivision.

Question 14

plat map

Answer 14

a map of a town, section, or subdivision indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties.

Question 15

restrictive covenants

Answer 15

a clause in a deed that limits the way the real estate ownership may be used.

Question 16

subdivider

Answer 16

one who buys undeveloped land, divides it into smaller, usable lots and sells the lots to potential users.

Question 17

subdivision

Answer 17

a tract of land divided by the owner, known as the subdivider, into blocks, building lots, and streets according to a recorded subdivision plat, which must comply with local ordinances and regulations.

Question 18

variance

Answer 18

permission obtained from zoning authorities to build a structure or conduct a use that is expressly prohibited by the current zoning laws; an exception from the zoning ordinances

Question 19

zoning ordinances

Answer 19

an exercise of police power by a municipality to regulate and control the character and use of property.